Combined GLSS/NRA Schedule Explained
Merrill, MI (Monday, January 16, 2023) - The new year is here, and with it comes the release of 2023 schedules for tracks and racing tours alike. Over the weekend, the Great Lakes Super Sprints presented by Engine Pro and ARP (GLSS), as well as the National Racing Alliance Sprint Invaders (NRA) released their 2023 schedules. This is a big season for GLSS and NRA, who will operate under the same management team for the first time. Led by Barry Marlow, the combined schedule features over 30 dates across Michigan and Ohio, giving 360 Winged Sprint Car fans and drivers plenty of races to choose from this season.
The schedule notes races intended for those who want to chase an NRA championship in 2023, those who wish to become a GLSS Champion, and opportunities for both regions to come together under one blanket and race together on “The Tour”. The “North Region” is made up of traditional GLSS tracks including Butler Motor Speedway (Quincy, MI), Crystal Motor Speedway (Crystal, MI), Hartford Speedway (Hartford, MI), I-96 Speedway (Lake Odessa, MI), and Silver Bullet Speedway (Owendale, MI). As for the “South Region”, NRA favorites return to the calendar including Atomic Speedway (Chillicothe, OH), Eldora Speedway (Rossburg, OH), Fremont Speedway (Fremont, OH), Limaland Motorsports Park (Lima, OH), and Waynesfield Raceway Park (Waynesfield, OH). Among the North and South schedules are a smattering of “open” dates where both the North and South regions can attend together, those tracks include Hartford Speedway, Merritt Speedway (Lake City, MI), Waynesfield Raceway Park, three TBA dates, and a co-sanctioned weekend with USCS at I-75 Raceway (Niota, TN).
The North Region GLSS schedule begins with a double-header weekend at I-96 Speedway (Friday) and Crystal Motor Speedway (Saturday) April 21-22nd. For I-96, it’s the first of five scheduled races at the facility in 2023 (04/21, 05/12, 06/30, 07/28, 08/18), a welcome surprise for many fans across the state. The fate of I-96 Speedway remains in limbo after Owner/Promoter Jeff Dice indicated he would not promote any races at the facility in 2023 which has been “For Sale” for the past two seasons. As for Crystal Motor Speedway, it’ll be the first time GLSS unloads at the facility without the direction of former Speedway Owner Ron Flinn. GLSS will visit the Mid-Michigan race track three times in 2023 (04/22, 05/27, 09/02).
April 28-29th features the first opportunity for both the North and South drivers to converge on the same race track, with a trip south to I-75 Speedway. The Niota, Tennessee race track will feature a showdown between the GLSS drivers and competitors of the United Sprint Car Series (USCS).
The first trip to Hartford Speedway comes on Friday, May 19th. The wide, fast, and unique race track will see GLSS teams five times in 2023 (05/19, 06/16, 07/07, 08/11, 09/09) with two dates dedicated to the North Region, and three dates that are set aside to host both regions.
Another double-header weekend rolls in on May 27-28 featuring a dedicated North division race at Crystal Motor Speedway on Saturday, with an open date for both regions at Waynesfield Raceway Park on Sunday, May 28th.
Other double-header weekends on the schedule for GLSS include June 16-17 from
Hartford Speedway (Friday) and Butler Motor Speedway (Saturday). A pair of TBA dates are on the schedule for July 1-2nd with a number of possible locations, however, none have yet been confirmed. An open weekend on July 7-8 is an opportunity for both regions to again meet and go head-to-head with a Hartford Speedway (Friday) and Merritt Speedway (Saturday) doubleheader. Hartford is part of another double dip August 11-12th, with Friday being an open show for both regions, while Saturday at Silver Bullet Speedway will go toward the GLSS Championship. August 18-19 features a GLSS double feature with a Friday showcase at I-96, and a Saturday unload at Butler Motor Speedway. The high-speed weekend is the final doubleheader of the season.
GLSS fans will notice a return to Merritt Speedway for the first time since September of 2021. Also returning for the first time since then is a return trip to Tri-City Motor Speedway. Fans have already expressed excitement for the return of GLSS at Tri-City, with one date on Friday, August 4th.
The year comes to a close with the GLSS Championship weekend at Crystal Motor Speedway on September 2nd. The Tour schedule ends at Harford Speedway on September 9th and the final event on the 2023 schedule is an October 7th date at Waynesfield Raceway Park.
The South Region kicks off on Saturday, April 8th at Waynesfield Raceway Park. The rest of the NRA schedule is Limaland Motorsports Park heavy with the next six dates in Lima (05/05, 05/19, 05/26, 06/09, 06/23, 06/30). Waynesfield Raceway Park breaks up the Lime rock schedule on July 3rd, then two more dates at Limaland July 14th and a doubleheader weekend July 21st (Lima) and July 22nd with a trip to Atomic Speedway. July 29th NRA drivers go to Fremont Speedway for the first and only visit of the season. The final points weekend of the season for NRA comes on August 4-5th at Limaland (Friday) and the crowning of a champion takes place Saturday at Eldora Speedway.
Max Stambaugh is expected to return as the defending GLSS champion in 2023. The Elida, OH native grabbed his first career championship last season with Smith Motorsports, besting Dustin Daggett and Danny Sams III for the title. Jared Horstman, a two-time GLSS Champion, is expected to defend his NRA title in 2023.
For more information on all things GLSS and NRA, log onto www.GreatLakesSprints.com. Find the Great Lakes Super Sprints on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
2023 COMBINED SCHEDULE
April 8:Waynesfield Raceway Park
April 21: I-96 Speedway
April 22:Crystal Motor Speedway
April 28:I-75 Speedway
April 29:I-75 Speedway
May 5:Limaland Motorsports Park
May 6: TBA May 12:I-96 Speedway
May 19:Limaland Motorsports Park
May 19:Hartford Speedway
May 26:Limaland Motorsports Park
May 27:Crystal Motor Speedway
May 28:Waynesfield Raceway Park
June 9:Limaland Motorsports Park
June 16:Hartford Speedway
June 17:Butler Motor Speedway
June 23:Limaland Motorsports Park
June 30:I-96 Speedway
June 30:Limaland Motorsports Park
July 1: TBA
July 2: TBA
July 3:Waynesfield Raceway Park
July 7:Hartford Speedway
July 8:Merritt Speedway
July 14:Limaland Motorsports Park
July 21:Limaland Motorsports Park
July 22:Atomic Speedway
July 28:I-96 Speedway
July 29:Fremont Speedway
Aug 4:Tri-City Motor Speedway
Aug 4:Limaland Motorsports Park
Aug 5:Eldora Speedway
Aug 11:Hartford Speedway
Aug 11:Limaland Motorsports Park (Rain date for 8/4)
Aug 12:Silver Bullet Speedway
Aug 18:I-96 Speedway
Aug 19:Butler Motor Speedway
Sept 2:Crystal Motor Speedway
Sept 9:Hartford Speedway
Oct 7:Waynesfield Raceway Park
Story - Zach Hiser, Horsepower Happenings
Photo - Jim DenHamer
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